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J. BLCHER.

Ame,

Pabented Apr. 2, 1867.

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JOHN BLOCHE;R, OF BUFF'ALO, NEWFYORK,

' Lettersiatent%. 63,358, dat,ecl April 2, 1867.

ro ,ALL WHOM; IT MAY oo'ircnm:

' Be it known that I, JOHN BLOCHER, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Eric, and State of New York, 7 have invonteda new and useful Improvement in the Running Gear of Land Carriages; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description, reference being hadto the aocompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevatiou of my improved axle, showing one wheel with its journal removed. Figure 2, a vertical section through the solid clip and end box with a portion of the axle.

Like letters indicate correspondin parts in both figures.

My invention consists in the com 1nation of a fixed shaft or arbor with each of the wheels of land carriages,

andconnecting the same with the usual axle by means of boxes, iu such a matmer that each wheel has an independent motion; and also in making the end bearings serve the double purpose of a clip, which is immovable when the wheel is on, and a box for the journal of the wheel.

I construct my wheels in the usual manner, except that instead of setting a box iu the hub to receive and turn upon the arm of the axle, in place thcreof I afi5lx tdgidly a short arm' or shaft, a, as represented in the drawings, b being the hub of the wheel C. These shafts are hung in bearing s parallel with the main axle d, which is of ordinary construction, except in not being provided with the usual arms for the wheel, the outer or end bearings e forming both a box for the shaft and a -clip fo'r the parts of the main axle, as'will behreafter described The shat't a'is provided with a collar,. close to the hub, which fits against the box e and prevents it from sliding toward the centre of the vehicle. Toward the.middle of the nipin axle a small hanger, g, is provided, large enough to receive the opposite end of the shaft a, which passos through it, and is secured therein by a, zint, 2'. Thus the collarf and nut being on opposite sides of the two boxes c g, secure the shai't against endwise motion, and aid in accomplishing one of the objects of my improvement, viz, to cause the wheels to run steadyhnd true, and track perfectly. The ,shatts aa muy be connected with the wheel in any manner that wii-l he rigid and permanent, and are preferably made to diminish in size from the beari1ig c to the other extremity, where the straiu on them is less. The boxes e-and g are provided with orifices for receiving oil, so that the wheel does not have to be removed from the vehicle for that purpo These bearings are small, and the journals fit accurately in them, so that the wheels run erfectly and steadily, and less friction occurs than in the ordinary method,

because the journals bf'each wheel have much lcss superficial arca than is contained in the hub box of an ordinarywheel.

It is well known that the arm or journal of carriag'e axles is liahlo to break, and that the fracture usually occurs near the shoulder. This is dueto the fact that the arms require to have considerable play inthc boxes in order to run easy when there is so much friction surface, thejournal of light carriages being usually eight to ten inches long. The whcels, in travell'ng, strike stones and other resistiug objects with great force, ow.ing to their momentum, and this foros reaots suddenly on the journal from the slight space in the box, prbduclng a severe blow or strai n, which is often exerted in an oblique or twsting, direction from the inequality of,road obstructions. ,Tho frequent repetition of these concussive strains finally results in the fracture of the 'arm. By

- my construction this ciect is obviated, first, by the wheel running so truly in its bearings, .without play, that it will at once rise and pass over ordinary obstructions; second, thatthere being no play between the parts the concussion cannot be produced with the same for-cc as the resistance o'ered to tho'wheel, the shock partially losingits fo'rce through the inertia of the.material, third, the shall: a having two bearings with somo distance between them, there is a chance for the metal to spring or yield.lightly between the two under a sudden concussion, and thcreby diminish its forc. The main'axle also dcr ves hdvantages of strength and resistance froni .this.arran gemcnt iu-cohsequence of the weight and strains being more equally distributed through several points ,of bearing: By this improvement I also accomplish a desirable result in securing the parts composing the axlc together by the end clips e c. These clips being usually held on by bolts, the nuts of which work loose and often drop ofi', itis diiicul t to keep the iron axlo d and its wood parts firmly together. This I fully accomplish by making the clip e, consisting of a single picce of metal without bolts, se:ve the purpose of o box for the shaft a, the

collar of which, bearing constantly,against it, and bcingdrawn in the-direction by the nut z', which holds the wheel on, prevcnt's the possibility of ii. Working off. This effect .muy be increased by making the clip somewhat wedgin}; in shape. V What I- claim as my'nvention,' isl In combination with the revolving wheel slmfts a and axlc d, the clip c, and collar fiand nut 2', arrn.ngod and aprating substantially in the uiunuo r and for the purposes set forth.

In witness wherof I have licrcunto signed ny name in the presence of two subscribingwitnessos.

, JOHN BLOCHER.

Witnsses "AY HYA'IT, 

